Momentum-engine



{No Model.)

' J. M. MILLER & W. L. B. COLLINS.

MOMENTUM ENGINE.

No. 554,073. Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

NiTEo STATES ATENT' OFFICE.

JAMES M. MILLER AND WVILLIAM L. B. COLLINS, OF VACAVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

MOMENTUM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,073, dated February 4, 1896.

Application filed June 25,1895. Serial No. 554,040. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMES H. MILLER and WILLIAM L. B. CoLLINs, citizens of the United States, residing at Vacaville, county of Solano, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Momentum-Engines; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description. of the same.

Our invention relates to an apparatus for applying the power of water under high pressure and momentum; and it consists in certain details of construction which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation showing our apparatus. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the nozzle.

The object of our invention is to provide an apparatus in which a column of water is impelled by the action of a jet of steam under high pressure so that the body of water is carried by the velocity of the steam-jet and by the pressure of air which it compresses in an air-chamber, and applied to buckets on the periphery of the wheel, and in conjunction therewith of a condensing apparatus intermediate between the injector and the wheel, whereby the body of vapor mingled with the water is condensed, so that the stream which is directed upon the wheel is a solid body of water. It is especially applicable in places where a small body of water can be obtained, and no head or pressure arising from a height from which the water is conducted.

A is a boiler of anysuitable ordesired construction.

B is a steam-pipe leading from the boiler, and C is an apparatus known as the injeetor, into one portion of which a steam-pipe delivers steam from the boiler.

E is a pipe leading from a source of water (not shown) and connecting with a nozzle in the injector O, in line with the steam-passage, so that the escaping steam will draw the water from the source and discharge it in the manner well known in the use of injectors.

F is a casing containing a water-wheel f-of that class known as hurdy-gurdy or momentum wheels, having buckets of any suitable description upon the periphery, into which a jet of water may be delivered.

H is the shaft of this wheel, and this shaft may carry a pulley or other suitable means through which power thus generated is transmitted.

We have found that a ditficulty arises from an attempt to use the column of water and steam directly from the injector O by reason of the fact that a portion of the steam or vapor remains uncondensed in the water, and while a high velocity is attained the stream is so broken that the impact upon the wheel is irregular, and the operation is much interfered with. To overcome this we have devised an intermediate apparatus in which this vapor is condensed, and at the same time a high degree of pressure is maintained so that the water when condensed is delivered from a nozzle directly into the buckets of the wheel in a solid unbroken stream, and at a desired pressure.

The condenser consists of a pipe D, into which the injector O discharges its steam and water. This pipe passes down into and through water in a tank I and thence extends upwardly to form of its upper portion a chamber or reservoir d surmounted by a pressure gage.

From the condenser D extends the discharge -nozzle K, which delivers the water upon the buckets of the wheel. This nozzle may be a plain one, but in order to insure the condensation of all the steam its best form is that shown in Fig. 2, in which it consists of a cylindrical outer portion J, the end of which tapers to form the nozzle K, through which water is delivered into the buckets of the wheel. Interior to this chamber is a second chamber L, into which the water is delivered from the condenser pipe I). This inner chamber is properly supported within the outer one, so as to leave an intermediate space M between the two, and it has a nozzle N directly in line with the nozzle K of the outer chamber. 0 is a pipe through which cold water is delivered from a reservoir 0 into this aim ular space M surrounding the inner chamber, and P is, a pipe of smaller diameter than pipe 0, whereby the space M is kept full and the waste of water is delivered into the tank I. The water in space M is thus kept from getting too warm.

As the mixed water and vapor from the condenser enters the chamber L any steam contained in it is condensed by the surrounding current of cooler water in space M, and the jet is delivered therefrom directly through this outer body of water and the outer nozzle K upon the wheel, producin a solid stream of water.

The velocity which is obtained through the nozzle which delivers the water upon the wheel is caused not only by the velocity of the steam, but also by the pressure in the condenser D. This pressure is very much above that which is carried in the boiler, as the injector will easily deliver water against three or more times the boiler-pressure which delivers steam into the injector.

The pressure in the condenser gradually rises, so as to cause velocity enough of the escaping jet to deliver the same amount of water upon the wheel as is forced in during I the same time.

For example, if the discharge-jet is oneeighth of an inch in diameter and will discharge four gallons of water passing through at a velocity of nine thousand feet per minnte the injector is adapted to inject into the we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An apparatus consisting of the momentum-wheel, an injector having a pipe connecting with the steanrboiler, an inlet-pipe connecting it with the source of water-supply, whereby a body of water is discharged through the injector by the velocity of the escaping steam, an intermediate condenser through which the jet of steam and water are discharged, and a discharge-nozzle surrounded by a body of fluid, and connecting with the condenser, and delivering the water upon the wheel.

2. An apparatus for applying power, consisting of a wheel, having peripheral buckets,

a discharge-nozzle adapted to deliver onto the wheel, an injector, a boiler from which steam is delivered through the injector, a pipe connecting the injector with a source of water whereby water is drawn inwardly by the vacuum produced by the passage of the steam from the injector, a condenser intermediate between the injector and the discharge-110a zle, and a reservoir or chamber in said condenser above the discharge-nozzle.

3. A momentum-engine com prising a boiler, an injector supplied with steam from the boiler, a connection of said injector with the source of water, a water-wheel, and a discharge-nozzle to receive the water from the injector and deliver it to the wheel, said 11ozzle consisting of spaced concentric and aligned jet-tubes having an intervening body of condensing water.

4. A momentum-engine comprising a boiler, an injector supplied with steam from the boiler, a connection of said injector with the source of water, a water-wheel, and a discharge-nozzle to receive the water from the injector and deliver it to the wheel, said nozzle consist-ingot spaced concentric and align ed jet-tubes having an intervening body of condensin g water, and inlet and outlet pipes from said body of water whereby it is kept cool.

5. A momentum-engine comprising a boiler, an injector supplied with steam from the boiler, a connection of said injector with the source of water, a condensing-pipe connected with said injector, a water-wheel and a discharge-nozzle to receive the water from the condensing-pipe and deliver it to the wheel, said nozzle consisting of spaced concentric and aligned jet-tubes having an intervening body of condensing water.

6. A momentum-engine comprising a boiler,

an injector supplied with steam from the boiler, a connection of said injector with the source of water, a condensing-pipe connected with said injector and having a compression chamber or reservoir, a water-wheel and a discharge-nozzle to receive the water from the condensing-pipe and deliver it to the wheel, said nozzle consisting of spaced concentric and aligned jet-tubes having an intervening body of condensing water. i

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

JAMES M. MILLER. XVILLIAM L' B. COLLINS.

Witnesses:

NATHAN HOLT, XV. E. SHIMBAUGH. 

